DOCSLIB.ORG

Dorset Aviation Past and Present 2 CHRISTCHURCH BRANCH

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Dorset Aviation Past and Present 2 CHRISTCHURCH BRANCH CHRISTCHURCH BRANCH 1 Contents Contents Introduction .............................................. 3 The Early Years and World War One ....... 4 The Inter-War Years .............................. 12 World War Two ..................................... 19 After World War Two ............................. 30 The Present Day ................................... 38 The Future ............................................. 49 Acknowledgements ............................... 50 Further Information ................................ 50 Top: Bournemouth Aviation Meeting 1910 (photo courtesy Mr J Barker & Mrs E Barker, Bournemouth) Bottom: Dassault Falcon 20s operated by Cobham plc Dorset Aviation Past and Present 2 CHRISTCHURCH BRANCH Introduction 2016 marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Royal In Dorset, the Society is represented by Christchurch Branch, Aeronautical Society, the world’s oldest professional institution which organises monthly evening talks at Bournemouth University dedicated to furthering the art, science and engineering of between September and April, and also organises occasional aeronautics and astronautics. The Society is unique in welcoming visits for its members to aerospace locations of interest. Members all professionals working in aerospace, whether pilot or lawyer, of the public are welcome to attend any or all of the talks free of engineer or accountant. This gives it the authority to represent the charge, although for a small annual subscription they can be a entire aerospace sector to the community at large. Branch member and enjoy additional benefits. Among many activities undertaken by the Society are providing To mark the Society’s 150th anniversary, Christchurch Branch policy advice to government, the organisation of specialist wishes to highlight the part Dorset has played and continues to conferences, encouraging young people into aerospace and play in aerospace, by producing this guide to aviation in the running the National Aerospace Library. county. Whilst many locations no longer have any evidence of what took place there, others do, and we hope this will both inform The Society has a broader aim outside these professional you and encourage you to get out and about around our beautiful activities: to inform the general public of the importance of aviation county. and space activities to the UK and the world at large. To this end, it operates through local Branches in the UK and overseas. For more information about Christchurch Branch, please contact These Branches, typically run by a mix of aerospace professionals our Branch Secretary at [email protected] For information and enthusiasts, put on regular talks for the general public on a about the Royal Aeronautical Society as a whole, the website is wide range of aerospace topics, given by specialists in their field. www.aerosociety.com Mel Porter, Branch Chairman May 2016 Dorset Aviation Past and Present 3 The Early Years and World War One (WW1) The Early Years and World War One Dorset is not an area well known for aviation pioneering. In fact, in the years leading up to World War One, what local aviation activity there was mainly occurred around Bournemouth, which was not at that time in Dorset at all. Both Bournemouth and Christchurch were part of Hampshire until 1974, but they are so important to the development of aviation in the Dorset area that it would be wrong to Early Flights ............................................. 5 exclude them. It was not until World War One that aviation really began to make its The Hon. Charles Stewart Rolls ............... 6 mark across the county, mainly in support of defending the English Channel. Dorset was also home to the first member of the Royal Flying displays and the first flying school.. 7 Flying Corps to be awarded the Victoria Cross. World War One ........................................ 8 WW1 Airship Operations ........................ 11 Dorset Aviation Past and Present 4 The Early Years and World War One (WW1) Early flights Dorset’s earliest involvement with aviation saw ballooning during the The first powered flight in Britain, by Samuel Cody, took place on 16 late 1800s. At least two flights ended dramatically, with one, in 1881, October 1908, and flying came to Dorset within two years. resulting in the loss of the MP for Malmesbury, Walter Powell. A balloon called Saladin in which Powell was a passenger landed heavily on the clifftop at Eype, near Bridport. The pilot was thrown Ralph Channon of Dorchester experimented with a Wright-style out and the balloon rose into the air again. It drifted out into the biplane during 1909/10, but he only managed a few short flights from English Channel with Powell still on board. Two years later it was the slopes of Maiden Castle. reported that wreckage of the balloon had been found in Spain, but there was no sign of Powell. Other early Dorset flyers were William McArdle, a Bournemouth garage owner, and J Armstrong Drexel, an American. They met whilst learning to fly near Paris in 1909. On returning to Bournemouth they built a number of Bleriot-style monoplanes in 1910, giving a flying display at Talbot Village over the Whitsun Bank Holiday. Drexel flying his Bleriot J Armstrong Drexel and William McArdle Contemporary image showing Saladin drifting out to sea Dorset Aviation Past and Present 5 The Early Years and World War One (WW1) The Hon. Charles Stewart Rolls (1877 - 1910) In 1910, as part its centenary celebrations, Bournemouth staged an International Aviation Meeting at Southbourne Aerodrome. This was one of the first such events in the country. Prize money totalled £8,500, with the outright winner – Leon Morane from France – taking home £3,425. The meeting attracted many well-known British aviators, including Samuel Cody, Claude Graham- White, J T Moore-Brabazon and The Hon Charles Stewart Rolls. The event is remembered principally for the fatal crash of Rolls on 12 July when his Wright Flyer biplane broke up in mid-air, making him the first person to die in an air crash in Great Britain. As well as being one of the founding partners of Rolls-Royce, he was the first person to fly across the English Channel non-stop in both directions and was also a well-known balloonist. His death caused great public mourning. Part of the aerodrome later became the site of St Peter’s School, where there is a memorial to the Rolls crash. Rolls ready to take off in his Wright biplane Rolls in flight The Rolls memorial at St Peter’s School Dorset Aviation Past and Present 6 The Early Years and World War One (WW1) Flying displays and the first flying school Henri Salmet first visited Bournemouth in Gustav Hamel was a British aviator who Farmland at Talbot Village was August 1912 in his Daily Mail sponsored learned to fly at the Blériot school in Pau. Bournemouth’s first flying ground and in Bleriot biplane. Louis Blériot himself commented that he November 1915 a flying school was had never seen a pilot with such natural established there by the Bournemouth He returned in 1913, running into a tree on ability. Aviation Company. It was used to train landing. Undeterred, he came back that prospective Royal Flying Corps (RFC) pilots December to fly Father Christmas into Hamel flew the first official airmail in Great and, although it was wartime, flights were Meyrick Park. Britain, between Hendon and Windsor in also available to the public at a cost of £3. 1911. In the same year, he made the first of 21 cross-channel flights. He gave a The school moved to nearby Ensbury Park number of public flying displays and during in 1917 and the site reverted to farming. In July 1912 a Mr Fischler demonstrated his a visit to Meyrick Park, Bournemouth, in Farman waterplane from alongside April 1914 he flew twenty-one loops. Bournemouth pier, giving a flight to the Mayor and Town Clerk. Fischler’s Farman alongside Bournemouth Pier Dorset Aviation Past and Present 7 The Early Years and World War One (WW1) World War One In August 1916 a plane, flown by one of the instructors from Talbot Ensbury Park, then on the northern outskirts of Bournemouth, took Village, flew low over Poole. He was giving a demonstration over the over from Talbot Woods at the beginning of 1917. town to raise funds for two of its hospitals. He landed at Poole Park to give the public a close-up look at his plane. Although still a civilian flying school, the Bournemouth Aviation Company continued to train pilots for the RFC and Royal Naval Air The Admiralty established a shipyard in the Lake area of Hamworthy Service, as well as Belgians and Canadians. It claimed to be the best in 1916. This was later expanded to accommodate seaplanes, -equipped flying school outside London. Aircraft used included probably Short 184s, operating patrols over the English Channel. Caudron, Curtiss JN-3s and Avro 504s. On 1 April 1918 the Royal Air Force was formed and the site became RAF Winton. Short 184 Caudron biplane trainer Dorset Aviation Past and Present 8 The Early Years and World War One (WW1) World War One (continued) Portland Weymouth Portland was a major Royal Navy base The Daily Mail sponsored a race for which, during the Naval Review of May waterplanes at Weymouth in 1912, 1912, saw a Short biplane take off from the probably to tie in with the Naval Review deck of HMS Hibernia, so paving the way for held at Portland in May. naval aviation. A number of other flights were made in connection with the Review, A field at Lodmoor was used by other operating from a site at nearby Lodmoor. aircraft attending the Naval Review. It remained in limited use during WW1 and In September 1916 a flight of Short 184 was subsequently listed as Weymouth’s seaplanes was based at Castletown, Aerodrome. It was little used, however, Portland, to operate patrols over the English and closed in 1922.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Royal Air Force Historical Society Journal 29
    ROYAL AIR FORCE HISTORICAL SOCIETY JOURNAL 29 2 The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the contributors concerned and are not necessarily those held by the Royal Air Force Historical Society. Copyright 2003: Royal Air Force Historical Society First published in the UK in 2003 by the Royal Air Force Historical Society All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the Publisher in writing. ISSN 1361-4231 Typeset by Creative Associates 115 Magdalen Road Oxford OX4 1RS Printed by Advance Book Printing Unit 9 Northmoor Park Church Road Northmoor OX29 5UH 3 CONTENTS BATTLE OF BRITAIN DAY. Address by Dr Alfred Price at the 5 AGM held on 12th June 2002 WHAT WAS THE IMPACT OF THE LUFTWAFFE’S ‘TIP 24 AND RUN’ BOMBING ATTACKS, MARCH 1942-JUNE 1943? A winning British Two Air Forces Award paper by Sqn Ldr Chris Goss SUMMARY OF THE MINUTES OF THE SIXTEENTH 52 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD IN THE ROYAL AIR FORCE CLUB ON 12th JUNE 2002 ON THE GROUND BUT ON THE AIR by Charles Mitchell 55 ST-OMER APPEAL UPDATE by Air Cdre Peter Dye 59 LIFE IN THE SHADOWS by Sqn Ldr Stanley Booker 62 THE MUNICIPAL LIAISON SCHEME by Wg Cdr C G Jefford 76 BOOK REVIEWS. 80 4 ROYAL AIR FORCE HISTORICAL SOCIETY President Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Michael Beetham GCB CBE DFC AFC Vice-President Air Marshal Sir Frederick Sowrey KCB CBE AFC Committee Chairman Air Vice-Marshal
    [Show full text]
  • THE RADAR WAR Forward
    THE RADAR WAR by Gerhard Hepcke Translated into English by Hannah Liebmann Forward The backbone of any military operation is the Army. However for an international war, a Navy is essential for the security of the sea and for the resupply of land operations. Both services can only be successful if the Air Force has control over the skies in the areas in which they operate. In the WWI the Air Force had a minor role. Telecommunications was developed during this time and in a few cases it played a decisive role. In WWII radar was able to find and locate the enemy and navigation systems existed that allowed aircraft to operate over friendly and enemy territory without visual aids over long range. This development took place at a breath taking speed from the Ultra High Frequency, UHF to the centimeter wave length. The decisive advantage and superiority for the Air Force or the Navy depended on who had the better radar and UHF technology. 0.0 Aviation Radio and Radar Technology Before World War II From the very beginning radar technology was of great importance for aviation. In spite of this fact, the radar equipment of airplanes before World War II was rather modest compared with the progress achieved during the war. 1.0 Long-Wave to Short-Wave Radiotelegraphy In the beginning, when communication took place only via telegraphy, long- and short-wave transmitting and receiving radios were used. 2.0 VHF Radiotelephony Later VHF radios were added, which made communication without trained radio operators possible. 3.0 On-Board Direction Finding A loop antenna served as a navigational aid for airplanes.
    [Show full text]
  • LESSON 3 Significant Aircraft of World War II
    LESSON 3 Significant Aircraft of World War II ORREST LEE “WOODY” VOSLER of Lyndonville, Quick Write New York, was a radio operator and gunner during F World War ll. He was the second enlisted member of the Army Air Forces to receive the Medal of Honor. Staff Sergeant Vosler was assigned to a bomb group Time and time again we read about heroic acts based in England. On 20 December 1943, fl ying on his accomplished by military fourth combat mission over Bremen, Germany, Vosler’s servicemen and women B-17 was hit by anti-aircraft fi re, severely damaging it during wartime. After reading the story about and forcing it out of formation. Staff Sergeant Vosler, name Vosler was severely wounded in his legs and thighs three things he did to help his crew survive, which by a mortar shell exploding in the radio compartment. earned him the Medal With the tail end of the aircraft destroyed and the tail of Honor. gunner wounded in critical condition, Vosler stepped up and manned the guns. Without a man on the rear guns, the aircraft would have been defenseless against German fi ghters attacking from that direction. Learn About While providing cover fi re from the tail gun, Vosler was • the development of struck in the chest and face. Metal shrapnel was lodged bombers during the war into both of his eyes, impairing his vision. Able only to • the development of see indistinct shapes and blurs, Vosler never left his post fi ghters during the war and continued to fi re.
    [Show full text]
  • As the Upkeep Bomb Was Not Only a Different Shape to Contemporary
    CARRYING UPKEEP As the Upkeep bomb was not only a different shape to contemporary bombs but also had to be spun before release, Barnes Wallis and Vickers-Armstrongs had to come up with a purpose built mounting to be fitted to the Type 464 Lancasters. This section was the most significant and important of all the Type 464 modifications, yet due to its position, in shadow under the black painted belly of the Lancaster, it has never clearly been illustrated before. 14 15 starboard front port rear the calliper arms The four calliper arms were made of cast aluminium with the connecting piece at the apex made of machined steel. Each apex piece contained a circular hub upon which the Upkeep would be suspended. The four arms were attached to the fuselage by heavy duty brackets which allowed the arms to rotate freely outwards to allow a clean release of the bomb. To load the Upkeep, the arms were closed onto it and retained in that position by means of a heavy-duty cable in an inverted ‘Y’ shaped form, with each of the V shaped lengths being connected to one of the front calliper arms, while the stem was attached to a standard 4000lb ‘Type F’ bomb release unit. After the arms were closed, the threaded ends of the cables were fitted through eyelets in the front calliper arms, and retained in position by large bolts, which also allowed for some adjustment and tensioning. 16 17 port front starboard spinning the Upkeep To enable the Upkeep to be spun, A Vickers Variable Speed Gear (VSG) unit was installed forward of the calliper arms and securely bolted to the roof of the bomb bay.
    [Show full text]
  • Aviation Classics Magazine
    Avro Vulcan B2 XH558 taxies towards the camera in impressive style with a haze of hot exhaust fumes trailing behind it. Luigino Caliaro Contents 6 Delta delight! 8 Vulcan – the Roman god of fire and destruction! 10 Delta Design 12 Delta Aerodynamics 20 Virtues of the Avro Vulcan 62 Virtues of the Avro Vulcan No.6 Nos.1 and 2 64 RAF Scampton – The Vulcan Years 22 The ‘Baby Vulcans’ 70 Delta over the Ocean 26 The True Delta Ladies 72 Rolling! 32 Fifty years of ’558 74 Inside the Vulcan 40 Virtues of the Avro Vulcan No.3 78 XM594 delivery diary 42 Vulcan display 86 National Cold War Exhibition 49 Virtues of the Avro Vulcan No.4 88 Virtues of the Avro Vulcan No.7 52 Virtues of the Avro Vulcan No.5 90 The Council Skip! 53 Skybolt 94 Vulcan Furnace 54 From wood and fabric to the V-bomber 98 Virtues of the Avro Vulcan No.8 4 aviationclassics.co.uk Left: Avro Vulcan B2 XH558 caught in some atmospheric lighting. Cover: XH558 banked to starboard above the clouds. Both John M Dibbs/Plane Picture Company Editor: Jarrod Cotter [email protected] Publisher: Dan Savage Contributors: Gary R Brown, Rick Coney, Luigino Caliaro, Martyn Chorlton, Juanita Franzi, Howard Heeley, Robert Owen, François Prins, JA ‘Robby’ Robinson, Clive Rowley. Designers: Charlotte Pearson, Justin Blackamore Reprographics: Michael Baumber Production manager: Craig Lamb [email protected] Divisional advertising manager: Tracey Glover-Brown [email protected] Advertising sales executive: Jamie Moulson [email protected] 01507 529465 Magazine sales manager:
    [Show full text]
  • Not Bad for a Fifty Year Old!
    Issue No 32 Autumn 2014 Not bad for a fifty year old! In this issue Chairman’s Introduction Page 2 Wings and Wheels 2014 Page 3 Engineering Report Page 9 General Aviation – the future Page 12 Visitors to XM655 Page 13 Vulcan Identification Page 15 Notice of Annual General Meeting Page 18 Around the World in 19 Days Page 18 Picture credits Page 23 The Chairman’s Introduction Charles Brimson As we approach the end of 2014 it is with a sense of quiet pride that all of us who are the custodians of XM655 can reflect on the success of the two notable celebrations that we have marked during the year. We started in February with the 30th anniversary of the Vulcan arriving at Wellesbourne in 1984, the start of ‘655’s second career when the aircraft was bought by businessman Roy Jacobsen with his ambitious plans for the Vulcan to fly on the British and American air show circuits based at Wellesbourne and captained by Joe L’Estrange. Alas, the plans never came to pass, but Roy’s loss was MaPS’ (and therefore all military aircraft enthusiasts’) gain as for 30 years we have been the proud custodians of the world’s only Olympus 301-powered Vulcan able to move (on the ground at least) under its own power. In November, we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the ‘birth’ of XM655 at the Avro works in Woodford and Chadderton back in November 1964. Our Vulcan was the third last of 136 manufactured by Avro and for the last thirty years has been the youngest surviving example, although at the ripe old age of 50 ‘young’ is perhaps a relative description.
    [Show full text]
  • Military Aircraft Crash Sites in South-West Wales
    MILITARY AIRCRAFT CRASH SITES IN SOUTH-WEST WALES Aircraft crashed on Borth beach, shown on RAF aerial photograph 1940 Prepared by Dyfed Archaeological Trust For Cadw DYFED ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUST RHIF YR ADRODDIAD / REPORT NO. 2012/5 RHIF Y PROSIECT / PROJECT RECORD NO. 105344 DAT 115C Mawrth 2013 March 2013 MILITARY AIRCRAFT CRASH SITES IN SOUTH- WEST WALES Gan / By Felicity Sage, Marion Page & Alice Pyper Paratowyd yr adroddiad yma at ddefnydd y cwsmer yn unig. Ni dderbynnir cyfrifoldeb gan Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Dyfed Cyf am ei ddefnyddio gan unrhyw berson na phersonau eraill a fydd yn ei ddarllen neu ddibynnu ar y gwybodaeth y mae’n ei gynnwys The report has been prepared for the specific use of the client. Dyfed Archaeological Trust Limited can accept no responsibility for its use by any other person or persons who may read it or rely on the information it contains. Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Dyfed Cyf Dyfed Archaeological Trust Limited Neuadd y Sir, Stryd Caerfyrddin, Llandeilo, Sir The Shire Hall, Carmarthen Street, Llandeilo, Gaerfyrddin SA19 6AF Carmarthenshire SA19 6AF Ffon: Ymholiadau Cyffredinol 01558 823121 Tel: General Enquiries 01558 823121 Adran Rheoli Treftadaeth 01558 823131 Heritage Management Section 01558 823131 Ffacs: 01558 823133 Fax: 01558 823133 Ebost: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Gwefan: www.archaeolegdyfed.org.uk Website: www.dyfedarchaeology.org.uk Cwmni cyfyngedig (1198990) ynghyd ag elusen gofrestredig (504616) yw’r Ymddiriedolaeth. The Trust is both a Limited Company (No. 1198990) and a Registered Charity (No. 504616) CADEIRYDD CHAIRMAN: Prof. B C Burnham. CYFARWYDDWR DIRECTOR: K MURPHY BA MIFA SUMMARY Discussions amongst the 20th century military structures working group identified a lack of information on military aircraft crash sites in Wales, and various threats had been identified to what is a vulnerable and significant body of evidence which affect all parts of Wales.
    [Show full text]
  • Inscribed 6 (2).Pdf
    Inscribed6 CONTENTS 1 1. AVIATION 33 2. MILITARY 59 3. NAVAL 67 4. ROYALTY, POLITICIANS, AND OTHER PUBLIC FIGURES 180 5. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 195 6. HIGH LATITUDES, INCLUDING THE POLES 206 7. MOUNTAINEERING 211 8. SPACE EXPLORATION 214 9. GENERAL TRAVEL SECTION 1. AVIATION including books from the libraries of Douglas Bader and “Laddie” Lucas. 1. [AITKEN (Group Captain Sir Max)]. LARIOS (Captain José, Duke of Lerma). Combat over Spain. Memoirs of a Nationalist Fighter Pilot 1936–1939. Portrait frontispiece, illustrations. First edition. 8vo., cloth, pictorial dust jacket. London, Neville Spearman. nd (1966). £80 A presentation copy, inscribed on the half title page ‘To Group Captain Sir Max AitkenDFC. DSO. Let us pray that the high ideals we fought for, with such fervent enthusiasm and sacrifice, may never be allowed to perish or be forgotten. With my warmest regards. Pepito Lerma. May 1968’. From the dust jacket: ‘“Combat over Spain” is one of the few first-hand accounts of the Spanish Civil War, and is the only one published in England to be written from the Nationalist point of view’. Lerma was a bomber and fighter pilot for the duration of the war, flying 278 missions. Aitken, the son of Lord Beaverbrook, joined the RAFVR in 1935, and flew Blenheims and Hurricanes, shooting down 14 enemy aircraft. Dust jacket just creased at the head and tail of the spine. A formidable Vic formation – Bader, Deere, Malan. 2. [BADER (Group Captain Douglas)]. DEERE (Group Captain Alan C.) DOWDING Air Chief Marshal, Lord), foreword. Nine Lives. Portrait frontispiece, illustrations. First edition.
    [Show full text]
  • THE USE of WOOD for AIRCRAFT in Tilt UNITED KINGDOM Report of the Forest Products Mission
    THE USE Of WOOD FOR AIRCRAFT IN Tilt UNITED KINGDOM Report of the forest Products Mission June 1944 ( No. 1540 ) UNITED STATES REPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE \FOREST SERVICE OREST RODUCTS LABORATORY Madison, Wisconsin In Cooperation with the University of Wisconsin r%; Y 1 4 9 14. \ THE.USE OF WOOD FOR AIRCRAFT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM Report of the Forest Products Mission INTRODUCTION On July 2, 1943, the British Air Commission in Washington, D, C., on behalf of the Ministry of Aircraft Production extended to the Secretary of the U. S. Department of Agriculture an invitation for representatives of the Forest Products Laboratory to visit England for the purpose of "strengthening the present collaboration between our two countries on researches into the uses of timber in aircraft construction." The Secretar: of Agriculture accepted this invitation. At the same time, similar invitations were extended by the British Air Commission to the U. S. Army Air Forces, the U. S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, the U. S. Civil Aeronautics Administration, and to the Canadian Forest Products Laboratories. Due to pressure of work and limi- tation of technical personnel, the Army and Navy were unable to accept the invitation. As finally constituted, the participants in the group, hereinafter referred to as the Forest Products Mission, were as follows: United States Carlile P. Winslow, Director, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin, Chairman of the Mission. L. J. Markwardt, Assistant Director, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Thomas R. Truax, Principal Wood Technologist, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Charles B. Norris, Principal Engineer, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.
    [Show full text]
  • Scholarships and Bursaries to Meet One Another
    The Air League Newsletter Issue 4: July/August 2015 REMEMBERING THE FEW he summer air show season is with us again and with it comes the annual opportunity for the public at large to see close up the equipment and personnel who continue to provide our air defences. The biggest gathering as usual will be at Tthe Royal International Air Tattoo being held at RAF Fairford from July 17-19 which will see international participants from air forces and army and naval air squadrons from all over the world, and also a nostalgic pageant of vintage and classic warbirds representing a century of military aviation. Other air displays will take place in many locations around Great Britain, from Prestwick to Bournemouth as well as at such well-known airfields as Duxford and Old Warden, where newly restored veteran aircraft demonstrate the ongoing enthusiasm and dedication that keeps alive interest in aviation history for the benefit of future generations. The shrinking size of the UK’s own air power is very noticeable at RIAT, where once dozens of operational units proudly displayed their squadron colours to the public. Although this reflects the reality of lost capabilities and depleted numbers, the ethos and professionalism of today’s Few will still feature strongly, thanks to the appearances of the Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and various individual aircraft displays. To commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain a Typhoon of No 29 Squadron has been repainted in the 1940 wartime colour scheme with the identification code of the aircraft flown by Flt Lt James Brindley Nicholson, the only Fighter Command pilot awarded the Victoria Cross during the battle.
    [Show full text]
  • North Hill in World War II Minehead, Somerset SCHOOLS RESOURCE PACK for Key Stages 2 & 3
    BACKGROUND READING AND TEACHER SUPPORT & PREPARATION North Hill in World War II Minehead, Somerset SCHOOLS RESOURCE PACK for Key Stages 2 & 3 SECTION 1 – NORTH HILL BEFORE AND DURING WORLD WAR 2 P1 -3 SECTION 2 – TANKS IN WORLD WAR 2 P4-5 SECTION 3 – TANK TRAINING IN WORLD WAR 2 P6-9 SECTION 4 – RADAR IN WORLD WAR 2, NORTH HILL RADAR STATION P10-13 SOURCES, VISUALS AND LINKS – TANK BACKGROUND READING AND TASKS P14-15 TEACHER SUPPORT AND PREPARATION P16 -20 _______________________________________________________________________________________________ BACKGROUND READING SECTION 1 – NORTH HILL BEFORE AND DURING WORLD WAR 2 WORLD WAR 2, 1939 -45 On September 1st 1939 Nazi Germany invaded Poland, two days later the British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, declared war on Germany. Britain joined with France and Poland, followed by the countries of the British Empire and Commonwealth. This group came to be known as ‘the Allies’. In 1941 they were joined by America and Canada, whose armies came to Minehead to train. Britain was badly-equipped for war and there was an urgent need for military training. Existing facilities were outdated and land for tank training was in short supply. North Hill became one of five major new tank training grounds in the country. NORTH HILL AS A MILITARY SITE During the Iron Age (700 BC – 43 AD), and the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I North Hill was considered an important military site. A beacon was set up above Selworthy in 1555, and in the late 1800s a large military training camp was established. The area continued as a training ground right up to the First World War.
    [Show full text]
  • RAF Centenary 100 Famous Aircraft Vol 3: Fighters and Bombers of the Cold War
    RAF Centenary 100 Famous Aircraft Vol 3: Fighters and Bombers of the Cold War INCLUDING Lightning Canberra Harrier Vulcan www.keypublishing.com RARE IMAGES AND PERIOD CUTAWAYS ISSUE 38 £7.95 AA38_p1.indd 1 29/05/2018 18:15 Your favourite magazine is also available digitally. DOWNLOAD THE APP NOW FOR FREE. FREE APP In app issue £6.99 2 Months £5.99 Annual £29.99 SEARCH: Aviation Archive Read on your iPhone & iPad Android PC & Mac Blackberry kindle fi re Windows 10 SEARCH SEARCH ALSO FLYPAST AEROPLANE FREE APP AVAILABLE FOR FREE APP IN APP ISSUES £3.99 IN APP ISSUES £3.99 DOWNLOAD How it Works. Simply download the Aviation Archive app. Once you have the app, you will be able to download new or back issues for less than newsstand price! Don’t forget to register for your Pocketmags account. This will protect your purchase in the event of a damaged or lost device. It will also allow you to view your purchases on multiple platforms. PC, Mac & iTunes Windows 10 Available on PC, Mac, Blackberry, Windows 10 and kindle fire from Requirements for app: registered iTunes account on Apple iPhone,iPad or iPod Touch. Internet connection required for initial download. Published by Key Publishing Ltd. The entire contents of these titles are © copyright 2018. All rights reserved. App prices subject to change. 321/18 INTRODUCTION 3 RAF Centenary 100 Famous Aircraft Vol 3: Fighters and Bombers of the Cold War cramble! Scramble! The aircraft may change, but the ethos keeping world peace. The threat from the East never entirely dissipated remains the same.
    [Show full text]